Adhesive tape dispenser



June 18, 1963 A. A. ANDERSON ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1959 with! INVENTOR.

ARTHUR A. ANDERSON BY FIG.2

EYS

ATTORN June 18, 1963 A. ANDERSON 3,094,260

ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER Filed Oct. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Shept 2 IN V EN TOR.

ARTHUR A. ANDERSON BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,094,260 ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER Arthur A. Anderson, Falcon Heights, Minn, assignor to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 844,951 6 Claims. (Cl. 225-104) This invention relates to dispensers for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. More particularly, it relates to a device for delivering pre-measured lengths of such tape, quickly and accurately.

The present invention provides a device which measures, severs and dispenses tape by use of a cutter wheel, which comprises an improvement over the kind of wheels described in Us. Patents Nos. 2,363,277; 2,407,- 641 and 2,449,047.

The cutter wheel of the present invention is rotatable, and includes tape carrying means adapted to receive and transport tape from -a supply roll and means for severing the transported tape into desired lengths. The tape carrying means includes a plurality of surfaces positioned in spaced relationship on the cutter wheel, each of which surfaces is comprised of a platen and a knife edge adapted to receive and hold the adhesive surface of tape as the cutter wheel is rotated. The knife edge is positioned adjacent to the platen in such a manner that the tape passes over the knife edge prior to contacting said platen as the tape is trained around the cutter wheel. The means for severing the tape includes means for pivoting one of the tape carrying surfaces to cause the tape to be severed by the knife edge on an adjacent tape carrying surface. The severed length of tape adheres to the pivoted tape carrying surface, with at least a portion of the severed length free to be grasped by the operator when it is desirable to remove the severed length from the machine.

A dispenser incorporating this invention may be equipped with means for applying a severed piece of tape to an article which is brought into engagement with the severed piece of tape. The dispenser may :also be provided with mechanical means for propelling the tape through the machine and cutting the tape by rotating the platen elements and the cutter wheel.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a simplified machine for severing and dispensing a definite length of adhesive tape. Also, a cutter wheel of the present invention can be made to contain many parts which are machined or cast from plastic, with the result that such a wheel can be manufactured at such relatively low cost, that machines incorporating a larger number of such wheels can be made and used wherever a number of length of adhesive tape are needed. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine of this invention, with a roll of pressure-sensitive tape mounted therein, showing the machine in rest position with part of one side of the machine removed, for purpose of clary;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the opposite side of the machine in FIGURE 1, showing the machine in operating position, with part of one side of the machine removed, for purpose of clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view showing a platen andknife plate mounted on the cutter wheel of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the platen and knife plate shown in FIGURE 3, taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURES 5 through 8 are schematic side views, and

FIGURE 7 contains a cut-away view, of the cutter wheel of the machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, showing the relative location of the parts of said wheel during the severing and dispensing of one length of tape.

In the accompanying drawings and description of the embodiment, shown, the end from which the operating handle protrudes is called the front of this machine, and the terms right and left are from the point of view of an operator positioned facing the front of the machine. The term top refers to that part of the machine through which the tape roll is shown to protrude. The side opposite from the top is called the bottom, and the side opposite from the front is called the back of the machine.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, reference characters 10 and '11 designate generally parallel side members which are held together in spaced relationship to support the Working parts of the machine. The edges of side members 10 and 11 are flanged at right angles toward each other. These flanged edges meet so as to be in abutting relationship along the entire back :and bottom of the machine. The flanged edges of side members 10 and 11 are spaced slightly apart from each other in the lower area at the front of the machine, and are spaced more Widely apart from each other in the upper area at the front and along the entire top of the machine. Stabilizers 12 and 13 extend outwardly from the bottom and front corners of side members 10 and 11.

Side members 10 and 11 are held together by bolt 15, which bolt is attached through axle 31 for cutter wheel 30, and by bolt 17, through axle 19 for handle 20. Handle 20 is pivotally attached to axle 19 and extends forwardly therefrom in two branches which are joined before they extend outwardly from the machine between the flanged edges in the lower area at the front of the machine. Handle 20 is movable downwardly and upwardly over the area at which the flanged edges of side members 10 and 11 are slightly spaced apart from each other, and plate 21 is aflixed to the top surface of handle 20 where handle 20 extends out from the front of the machine. Pin 23 and pin 25 are aflixed to side members 10 and 11, and one end of each of springs 24 and 26 is attached to pin 23. The other ends of springs 24 and 26 are attached to handle 20. Springs 24 and 26 urge handle 20 is the upward direction, and pin 25 acts as a stop to prevent handle 20 from being moved upward beyond pin 25.

Hook 27 is pivotally attached to handle 20 by pin 28, and said hook extends upwardly from handle 20 to contact cutter wheel 30. Hook 27 is shaped to engage successive lugs which protrude from cutter Wheel 30, and spring 29 acts to urge hook 27 toward said lugs. Hook 27 is shaped in a manner which will aid it in engaging successive lugs on cutter wheel 30 as said wheel is rotated by movement of said hook.

Cutter wheel 30 is rotatably mounted on axle 31, and said cutter wheel is provided with extended rims 33 and 34. A plurality of round shafts 35 are rotatably journaled through rims 33 and 34, so that said shafts are regularly spaced around the peripheral portions of rims 33 and 34, parallel to axle 31. There are four shafts 35 shown spaced apart, in the embodiment shown in the attached drawings. The following description will recite only one shaft, and the parts which are contained thereon, since each shaft is provided with parts which are identical.

The right ends of shafts 35 protrude beyond rim 34, to form lug 36. Lug 36 is engaged and pulled by hook 27 in order to rotate cutter wheel 30 when handle 20 is moved downwardly, toward the bottom of the machine.

Spring 38 is positioned around axle 31. One end of spring 38 bears against the inside surface of side member and the other end of spring 38 bears against the outside surface of rim 34. Spring 38 acts to urge cutter wheel into engagement with parts contained on side member 11, and also serves to retard, and thus stabilize, the rotational movement of said wheel.

Between rims 33 and 34, shaft 35 is constructed as a half-round, that is as if half of the round shaft had been removed along the length of said shaft. A central aperture is provided through the half-round section of shaft 35 in the radial direction and at right angles to the flat surface of the half-round. Platen 42 and knife plate 44 are affixed to the half-round part of shaft 35 by screw 46, as is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

Platen 42 is formed with tape receiving surface 43', and surface 43 is curved to conform with the peripheral arc of rims 33 and 34. Since surface 43 contacts the adhesive side of the tape, grooves 47 are provided in said surface in order to provide less adhesive surface for the tape. Platen 42 is also formed with semi-circular shaped depression 45, to conform With the semi-circular shape of shaft 35, and a central channel is provided in said platen, perpendicularly through said depression to receive screw 46.

Knife plate 44 is a fiat plate having a serrated knife edge 48 and a central aperture to receive and hold screw 46. As is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, platen 42 and knife plate 44 are assembled on shaft 35 so that knife edge 48 of knife plate 44 and tape receiving surface 43 of platen 42 are in abutting relationship. Shaft 35 is rotatably mounted on cutter wheel 30 so that during the rotational movement of said wheel, tape receiving surface 43 of platen 42 follows behind serrated edge 48 of knife plate 44, and both surface 43 and edge 48 contact the adhesive side of the tape, to transport it during the rotational movement of cutter wheel 30. In order to aid in the cutting action of knife edge 48, said knife edge is positioned so that its serrated surface is slightly angled with respect to tape receiving surface 43.

Cam 50 is aifixed to the left end of shaft 35, at the outside edge of rim 33. The outer peripheral surface 51 of cam 50 is curved to the shape of the periphery of rim 33. Cam 50 contains teeth 52 along the inside periphery, at the leading edge of said cam. Teeth 52 are positioned and shaped for engagement with the teeth on pinion 53. Pinion 53' is afiixed to the interior surface of side member 11, and protrudes inwardly therefrom so that the teeth on said pinion will engage teeth 52 on cam 50. The engagement of teeth 52 with pinion 53, during the rotational movement of cutter wheel 30, will cause cam 50 to pivot, rotating shaft 35 and pivoting platen 42 and knife plate 44. Stub pin 55 is aflixed to the outside surface of rim 33, and said pin acts as a stop to prevent pivotal movement of cam 50 beyond the positions occupied by said cam when surface 56 or 57 is caused to bear against pin 55.

Retainer 58 is a semi-circular shaped rim which protrudes inwardly from the inner surface of side member 11 to the inner edge of rim 33. Retainer 58 extends for slightly more than half of the distance around rim 33. Top edge 59 or retainer 58 acts as a bearing surface for surface 51 of cam 50, serving to re-position cam 58 after said cam has been caused to pivot on shaft 35. After cam 50 has been so re-positioned, surface 51 continues to bear against retainer 58, to hold cam 50 in this position until the rotational movement of cutter wheel 30 causes teeth 52 on cam 50- to engage pinion 53. Retainer 58 ends at this point, so cam 50 is allowed to be rotated, and will remain normally in this rotated position until it is repositioned by contact between surface 51 of cam '50 and edge 59 of retainer 58.

Roll 60 of tape T is mounted on hub 62. Hub 62 contains stub shafts 64 and is rotatably suspended between side members 10 and 11 by engagement of stub shafts 64 into channels and 66 in the inner surfaces of side members 10 and 11. Hub 62 is provided with ridges 63 to engage the inner circumference of tape roll 60' more firmly. Stub shafts 64 of hub 62 are inserted into channels 65 and 66 in such manner that the adhesive coated surface of tape T will face upwardly as it is unwound from the roll and threaded forwardly in the machine. Roller 68 is rotatably attached between side members 10 and 11, and tape T passes from tape roll 60 over roller 68 with the non-adhesive side of the tape T in contact with roller 68. From roller 68, tape T is threaded onto cutter wheel 30, with the adhesive side of the tape in contact with platen 42 and knife edge 48.

In the operation of this machine, with tape T threaded as described above, the downward movement of plate 21 will cause handle 20 to pivot on axle 19, carrying hook 27 downwardly ion pin 28. Since hook 27 is engaged onto lug 36 of one \of the shafts 35, the downward movement of hook 27 will result in rotating cutter wheel 30 in the direction shown by arrow 37. Because tape T is adhered to platen 42 and knife edge 48, the rotational movement of cutter wheel 30 acts to pull tape T from roll 60, over roller 68. Tape T is transported toward the front of the machine by cutter wheel 30 since it is adhered to platen 42 and knife edge 48 on each shaft 35. Each shaft 35 is successively advanced by engaging hook 27 with lug 36 on each said shaft and moving said hook downwardly by moving plate 21 of handle 20. Springs 24 and 26 are extended when handle 20 is moved downwardly, and springs 24 and 26 act to return handle 20 to its upward position when said handle is released after reaching the extent of its stroke. This return stroke of handle 20 moves hook 27 onto the next lug 36, into position to pull on said lug and rotate cutter wheel 30 when handle 20 is again depressed.

FIGURES 5 through 8 are schematic illustrations, shown partly in section, of the successive positions of cutter wheel 30 during a one quarter revolution of the wheel and showing the positions of the various parts of the wheel during such movement.

FIGURE 5 shows tape T being transported around the cutter wheel, with the adhesive side of said tape in contact with platen 42 and knife edge 48 on the shafts 35 which are marked with the letters B and C. However, the shaft marked with the letter D has not been moved far enough for its knife edge and platen to contact tape T. The shafts marked B, C and D are held in posi tion on wheel 30 by surface 51 on cam 50 of each shaft bearing against retainer 58. The shaft marked with the letter A is in the rotated position for dispensing tape, with teeth 52 on cam 50 engaged with the teeth on pinion 53, and the tape has already been removed from it.

In FIGURE 6, cutter Wheel 30 has been rotated until the platen 42 and knife edge 48 on the shaft marked D have contacted tape T, and tape T is adhered to said platen and knife edge .by the adhesive force :of the tape. Surface 56 on cam 58 of shaft A has already engaged stub pin 55, and surface 51 has begun to bear against top edge 59 on retainer 58, and, since the teeth 52 on cam 50 are no longer engaged with pinion 53, cam 50 of shaft A is being counter-rotated by movement of cam 50, to re-position shaft A on cutter wheel 30. Shaft C has been advanced around on cutter wheel 30, transporting tape T by the adherence of tape to platen 42 and knife edge 48. Shaft B has begun to be rotated as teeth 52 on cam 50 on this shaft have engaged the teeth on pinion 53, and surface 51 of said cam 50 is no longer held by retainer 58.

FIGURE 7 has been partially cut away to show the severance of the tape between adjacent shafts B and C. In FIGURE 7, rotation of cutter wheel 30 has caused the further rotation of cam 50 and platen 42 on shaft B, and has increased the distance between knife edge 48 on shaft B and knife ledge 48 on shaft C since shaft C is kept from rotating by the pressure of surface 51 of cam 50 against retainer 58. This increase in distance results in an increase in tension in the tape between knife edge 48 on shaft B and knife edge 48 on adjacent shaft C, until the tape is severed on the knife edge 48 of shaft C.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGURE 7, shaft A has been repositioned on cutter wheel 30 by the counter-rotation of said shaft. Shaft A is held in tape receiving position by action of surface 51 against retainer 58. However, shaft A has not moved far enough to allow contact with tape T, but shaft D has carried tape T on cutter wheel 30.

In FIGURE 8, shaft B has been further rotated to dispensing position, to the point at which the severed piece of tape is adhered to platen 42 and knife edge 48 but the free end protrudes away from cutter wheel 30. The severed piece of tape can easily be removed from the platen and knife edge of shaft B by grasping the free end and pulling upwardly .on the tape. After the severed piece of tape has been removed, the parts are in the same position as is shown in FIGURE 5, and a newly severed length of tape can be obtained by repeating the operation of the machine.

Variations in the operation of the above described embodiment undoubtedly suggest themselves, and various modifications, embodying some or all of the novel features herein disclosed, can be envisioned. Such variations are comprehended, and I do not intend to be limited only to the specific embodiment herein describe-d, but, rather, I intend to be limited only by my disclosure taken as a whole, including the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for severing a strip of adhesive tape into lengths thereof, a rotatable cutter wheel adapted to Withdraw tape from a supply and to sever the tape into lengths, said wheel comprising an annular member having a plurality of tape carrying means pivotally attached to said annular member for transporting tape on said annular member, and means for successively pivoting said tape carrying means in order to sever the tape carried between two adjacent tape carrying means, each of said tape carrying means including a knife edge on which the tape is severed by said pivotal movement of one of said adjacent tape carrying means while the other of said two adjacent tape carrying means is not pivoted.

2. In a device for dispensing adhesive tape, a rotatable cutter wheel having a plurality of tape carrying means pivotally attached to said wheel and means for successively pivoting said tape carrying means in order to sever tape suspended between two adjacent tape carrying means, each of said tape carrying means including a knife edge on which said suspended tape is severed by the rotational movement of said wheel to cause pivotal movement of one of said adjacent tape carrying means while the other of said two adjacent tape carrying means is not pivoted.

3. In a device for dispensing a length of adhesive tape, a rotatable cutter wheel having a plurality of tape carrying means pivotally attached to said wheel and means for successively pivoting said tape carrying means to sever tape suspended between adjacent tape carrying means; each of said tape carrying means including a platen and a knife edge being adapted to contact the adhesive surface of tape from a supply thereof and to transport the tape as said wheel is rotated, said pivoting means including a cam attached to said tape carrying means for movement in response to said rotational movement of said wheel.

4. A machine for dispensing lengths of adhesive tape, said machine comprising a supporting structure, means for holding a supply of tape, a rotatable cutter wheel adapted to withdraw tape from said supply and to sever the tape into lengths, and means for rotating said cutter wheel; said cutter wheel including an annular member having a plurality of tape carrying means pivotally attached to said annular member for transporting tape on said annular member and means for successively pivoting said tape carrying means in order to sever the tape carried on a pivoted tape carrying means, each of said tape carrying means including a knife edge on which the tape is severed by said pivotal movement of said pivoted tape carrying means during the rotational movement of said cutter wheel to increase the distance between the knife edges on said pivoted tape carrying means and an adjacent nonpivoted tape carrying means and cause severance of the tape along the knife edge of said adjacent non-pivoted tape carrying means, with the severed length of tape adhered to the pivoted tape carrying means.

5. A machine for dispensing lengths of adhesive tape, said machine comprising .a supporting structure, means for holding a supply roll of tape, a rotatable cutter wheel adapted to withdraw tape from said supply and to cut the tape into lengths, and means for rotating said cutter wheel; said cutter wheel including a plurality of tape carrying means pivotally attached to said wheel for contact with the adhesive surface of the tape and means for successively pivoting said tape carrying means in order to eifect severance of the tape between two adjacent tape carrying means, each of said tape carrying means including a knife edge on which the tape is severed by the rotational movement of said wheel to cause pivotal movement of one of said tape carrying means to increase the distance between the knife edges on said pivoted tape carrying means and an adjacent non-pivoted tape carrying means and cause severance of the tape along the knife edge of said adjacent non-pivoted tape carrying means, with the severed length of tape adhered to the pivoted tape carrying means.

6. A machine for severing and dispensing lengths of adhesive tape, said machine comprising a supporting structure including means for supporting a rotatable supply roll of tape, a rotatable cutter wheel and means for rotating said cutter wheel; said cutter wheel comprising an annular member having a plurality of tape carrying means pivotally attached to said annular member to contact the adhesive surface of the tape, means for pivoting said tape carrying means to cut the tape held in adhesive contact between adjacent tape carrying means, means for re-positioning said tape carrying means from pivoted position to tape contacting position and for retaining said tape carrying means in tape contacting position as tape is withdrawn from said supply and tnansported by the rotational movement of said wheel, said tape carrying means including a knife edge positioned in such manner that the tape passes over said knife edge when said tape is in contact with said tape carrying means, said pivoting means including a cam attached to said tape carrying means for imparting pivotal movement to one of two adjacent tape car-rying means as said cam is engaged by a fixed member during rotational movement of said wheel to increase the distance between the knife edges of said two adjacent tape carrying means, to cause severance of the tape along the knife edge of the non-pivoted adjacent tape carrying means, with the severed length of tape held on the pivoted adjacent tape carrying means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,915 Anderson Aug. 17, 1943 2,363,277 Anderson Nov. 21, 1944 2,407,641 Anderson Sept. 17, 1946 2,444,019 Krueger June 22, 1948 2,449,047 Anderson Sept. 14, 1948 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR SEVERING A STRIP OF ADHESIVE TAPE INTO LENGTHS THEREOF, A ROTATABLE CUTTER WHEEL ADAPTED TO WITHDRAW TAPE FROM A SUPPLY AND TO SEVER THE TAPE INTO LENGTHS, SAID WHEEL COMPRISING AN ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF TAPE CARRYING MEANS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID ANNULAR MEMBER FOR TRANSPORTING TAPE ON SAID ANNULAR MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY PIVOTING SAID TAPE CARRYING MEANS IN ORDER TO SEVER THE TAPE CARRIED BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT TAPE CARRYING MEANS, EACH OF SAID TAPE CARRYING MEANS INCLUDING A KNIFE EDGE ON WHICH THE TAPE IS SEVERED BY SAID PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF ONE OF SAID ADJACENT TAPE CARRYING MEANS WHILE THE OTHER OF SAID TWO ADJACENT TAPE CARRYING MEANS IS NOT PIVOTED. 